Madeira weather · January
Weather in Madeira in January
A monthly average blurs the two Madeiras together: a drier south, a wetter and greener north. The numbers below are the island averaged out. On the day you actually walk, one coast is clear and the other is under cloud.
January is Madeira's quiet, green month. The south coast stays mild enough for t-shirt walking on sunny afternoons, while the peaks above 1,500 m turn properly cold and occasionally see frost or a dusting of snow. Rain comes in spells rather than settling in for weeks.
Madeira temperatures, rain and sea in January, coast to summit
| Where | Day / night | Rain | Rainy days | Sun/day | Peak wind | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funchal / south coast | 18.7 / 14.1 °C | 79 mm | 10 | 8 h | 15 km/h | 20.2 °C |
| Porto Moniz / north coast | 18.6 / 14.3 °C | 92 mm | 11 | 8 h | 15 km/h | — |
| Pico do Arieiro (1,818 m) | 7 / 1.6 °C | 108 mm | 14 | 8 h | 11 km/h | — |
10-year monthly averages (2016-01-01 to 2025-12-31), historical archive. See all months
Why Madeira's weather differs by coast and altitude
The three rows above are the point: in the same January week, Funchal and the summits behave like different countries. Madeira's mountains split every weather system in two, so "weather in Madeira" is really the weather of whichever coast and altitude you stand on. The pattern is explained in our microclimate guide; for a specific day, live per-trail conditions beat any monthly average.
Hiking in Madeira in January
Work with the island's split personality. After a wet spell the north and the high levadas run loud with water, which is exactly when the waterfall walks earn their name. On grey days the driest ground is almost always the south coast between Funchal and Ponta do Sol. Check official trail status before driving up: winter storms are the main reason a path closes for a few days.
Good starting points this month: easy levada walks and waterfall hikes. Regulated classics like PR1 need advance booking via SIMplifica.
What January is like in Madeira
The first days of January still carry Funchal's New Year atmosphere, and the mountain views are at their sharpest between weather fronts. Pack a warm layer for anything above 1,200 m; the summit averages barely reach 7 °C.
Common questions
How warm is Madeira in January?
On the south coast around Funchal, January days average about 18.7 °C and nights about 14.1 °C. The mountains are a different world: at Pico do Arieiro (1,818 m) the average daytime high is around 7 °C. Pack for both if you plan to hike high.
Does it rain a lot in Madeira in January?
Funchal averages roughly 79 mm across about 10 rainy days in January, one of the wetter months on the south coast. The north coast and the mountains always catch more. Rain is usually local: when one coast is wet, the other is often dry, which is why a single island-wide forecast misleads.
Can you swim in the sea in Madeira in January?
The Atlantic around Funchal averages about 20.2 °C in January, which is brisk, for determined swimmers. The natural lava pools at Porto Moniz and Seixal are the classic post-hike swim spots.
Is January a good month for the levada walks?
Yes. Levada walks work all year because most sit in sheltered valleys and forest, and Madeira has no real off-season. What changes in January is which side of the island has the better day, so check live per-trail conditions on the morning rather than trusting a single island-wide forecast.
Nearby months: December · February
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